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By Design
By Design
speaks with a panel of golf course
architects about the Longleaf Tee Initiative.
ROUNDTABLE
Moving
T
he ASGCA Foundation has
teamed up with the U.S.
Kids Golf Foundation on an
initiative to encourage more clubs
to adopt teeing systems like the one
introduced at the Longleaf Golf &
Family Club in Pinehurst, North
Carolina. By providing data and
guidance on how golf clubs can
introduce an improved range of
teeing options at their facilities, the
aim of the Longleaf Tee Initiative is to
give every golfer, regardless of their
skill level, the ability to play at a good
pace, shoot lower scores and have
more fun.
By Design
spoke with three ASGCA
Past Presidents who have been
instrumental in the development of
the Longleaf Tee Initiative—Clyde
Johnston, ASGCA; John LaFoy, ASGCA
and Greg Muirhead, ASGCA—each of
whom believes that many more golf
clubs could benefit from introducing
similar teeing systems on their courses.
Why should golf clubs think about
introducing the Longleaf Tee System,
or similar, on their golf courses?
Johnston:
The Longleaf Tee System
is a completely new and different
way of thinking about setting up
a golf course so that people of all
ages and abilities can have more fun
playing golf. The tee you play from
is based on how far you hit your tee
shot. Every tee is gender neutral and
should be USGA rated for men and
women. The system also breaks the
mold of the tee marker color system
that has stifled many players from
playing from a tee more suited to
their game.
While this system increases the
number of tee areas on a golf hole, it
also increases the ability of the golf
facility to attract new players and
retain current players by providing
a tee suited to their skill level. This
system allows young players to start
playing from shorter yardages, then
THE PANEL
Clyde Johnston,
ASGCA,
is
based in Hilton
Head Island,
South Carolina,
and is President
of the ASGCA
Foundation.
Greg Muirhead,
ASGCA,
is based
in New Jersey and
is Vice President
of the ASGCA
Foundation.
John LaFoy,
ASGCA,
is
based in South
Carolina and is a
former President
of the ASGCA
Foundation.
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